BCC won't be raising student fees

Friday

Jul 4, 2014 at 12:25 AMJul 4, 2014 at 12:27 AM

Curt BrownThe Standard-Times

NEW BEDFORD — Bristol Community College students praised the school’s decision not to raise fees for the third straight year and said they would be hard-pressed to further their educations if costs increased.

“I think it’s a great thing,” Sandra Caneira of New Bedford said Tuesday at the New Bedford campus. “It gives students a chance to pursue their education without worrying about increases in fees.”

Rebecca Szwaja of New Bedford reacted by giving a thumbs-up as she headed to a class at the New Bedford campus.

In a news release Tuesday, the school said the Board of Trustees decided not to raise fees after the Legislature finalized BCC’s budget for fiscal 2015.

The school is receiving $1,319,267 in additional revenue for fiscal year 2015 — its share of an additional $13.2 million that is being distributed among the state’s 15 community colleges. The extra revenue supplements the school’s base appropriation of $18,164,297, according to the release.

The extra funds all the community colleges are receiving is distributed based on a complicated funding formula, according to Sally Cameron, vice president for college communications.

It is based on a number of factors including enrollment, performance data, retention and graduation rates, course completion and program mix, she said.

Students pay $171 per credit, with $24 for tuition and $147 in fees, she said. Tuition money goes to the state, while the fees are retained locally, she said.

Anthony R. Sapienza of Dartmouth, a member of the Board of Trustees and president and chief executive officer of Joseph Abboud Manufacturing, New Bedford, said trustees purposely keep costs down, knowing how expensive is for some of their students to attend college.

“We want to keep as many kids going to college as possible,” he said. “We know it’s a financial hardship for some to go to college.

“We just think it’s important for anyone to come to BCC to do so in the most affordable way possible,” he said.

“The trustees are committed to keeping costs as low as we can, and this action by the General Court makes it possible,” Joe Marshall, chairman of the board, said in the release.

“Bristol now has the second largest number of full-time equivalent students in the state, and we look forward to continued growth and opportunity for our students and our community,” he said.

Jasmino Gomes of New Bedford, who was walking to his class at the New Bedford campus Tuesday night, said BCC has a reputation for offering an affordable education.

“It’s very generous considering the costs of other colleges,” he said of the decision to hold the line on the fees.

Lisa Herring of New Bedford said her education is partially funded with state and federal grants, but it is still expensive. A math book alone set her back $200, she said.

“I think if there was an increase (in fees) and I didn’t have grants, I would not be able to attend BCC,” she said.